Saturday, January 31, 2009

Intersex Pride is a blog with a wealth of information for the intersex community, allies, and those looking to learn more. It offers a queer perspective on issues such as gender, sexuality, and political viewpoints.

Homosexuality is being discussed in Armenian media and literature in the context of a threat to national security, and as a disordered identity. These attitudes only advance the notion that gays are sick and dangerous, and serves to promote a culture of violence against LGBT citizens in the country.

"Even through the general absence of any desire to ask fundamental questions about homosexuality, male homosexuality in Armenia has been consistently described as a threat to national security, a result of accepting European decadent values or a pathology and disease, while homosexual women have been denied of existence all together or condemned in not fitting into the image of a “proper” Armenian woman.

We urge all officials, politicians, journalists, teachers, doctors and all those who are engaged in public work as well as each and every individual, to get acquainted with problems that homosexual men and women face in Armenia, their socially active initiatives and to the contemporary debates around gender and sexuality."

Mormon church officials, facing an ongoing investigation by the state Fair Political Practices Commission, Friday reported nearly $190,000 in previously unlisted assistance to the successful campaign for Prop. 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California.

The report, filed with the secretary of state’s office, listed a variety of California travel expenses for high-ranking members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and included $20,575 for use of facilities and equipment at the church’s Salt Lake City headquarters and a $96,849 charge for “compensated staff time” for church employees who worked on matters pertaining to Prop. 8.

The Mormon church had been under investigation by the Fair Political Practices Commission for failure to report its contributions as required by law. The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by Fred Karger, of Californians Against Hate.

IRS regulations barred from endorsing political candidates, but they allow churches and religious groups to campaign and contribute on behalf of issues. When doing so, churches are required to report their contributions just like every other donor. They are also required to report and attach fair market dollar values to “in-kind” donations, which consist of services and activities provided directly without charge by a donor that a campaign would otherwise have been required to pay for.

Ted Haggard, the anti-gay preacher of the New Life Church and President representing 80 million Evangelical Christians was caught in a major sex scandal. He was discovered to be taking methamphetamine's while engaging in gay sex with a male escort and as a result he has suffered and become an outcast due to his outing. Due to his actions the former preacher has a tough time finding a job, friends, and support system to move forward.

Here is a funny song by Roy Zimmerman about the scandal and what Ted Haggard was like:

In light of new people coming forward in the scandal and his upcoming HBO documentary 'The Trials of Ted Haggard' which documents his life after the outbreak of the gay sex and drug scandal, Ted Haggard now for the first time publicly discusses private issues.

Ted Haggard when asked about his sexuality doesn't claim to be "ex-gay", straight and healed, he simply says he is a "heterosexual with issues" or a "heterosexual with homosexual attachments." When asked to define his sexuality he says that "he does not fit neatly into a box" and that he doesn't feel the need to label himself. He now says he believes "he didn't need to be cured, because he wasn't ever sick, and that one cannot avoid having gay thoughts, but can decide whether to act on the behavior."

Whether Haggard knows it or not, he basically just publicly discussed for America the idea of a sexual continuum and queer sexuality. It is very much possibly that Mr. Haggard lies closer to the heterosexual side of the continuum. He also may be downplaying his same-sex attraction in an attempt to be more mainstream and keep his relationship with his wife going.

How will this play out in the minds of Americans? It is helpful or hurtful? Also, is Ted Haggard possibly a spokesperson for the queer identity even though he doesn't know it or intend to be? Or is he just making bisexual identity out to be a "confusion and sexual immorality" the Church has so long claimed it is?

Friday, January 30, 2009

On November 3, 2008, ProtectMarriage.com received a contribution of $30,354.85 from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You read that right. The Mormon Church donated more than $30 thousand dollars to eradicate the right of same-sex couples to marry. This is clear evidence, with a paper trail showing the Church and their personal financial contribution.

Wherever you are in the world, and whatever political affiliation your representative has in your local area, ie: liberal, conservative, moderate, etc you can ask their opinion on LGBT issues. Tell them you are a staunch supporter of LGBT rights including (marriage, adoption, hate crimes, employment non-discrimination, the right to serve and others).

Phone or email your candidates for senate, congress, city council, and the courts and let them know where you as a constitute stands on these crucial issues. The more we speak up, the more we will be heard, and we can demonstrate that we are a segment of the population that can and does get out the vote!

Feel free to re-post the comments you receive from candidates whether positive, neutral, or negative.

The Asexuality Meetup Listing, provides for a listing of different asexual groups around the world, and people interested in the subject. Join a group, start your own, or collaborate with other asexuals in your area!

The Empire State Pride Agenda, the ACLU, the NYCLU, and Lambda Legal have collaborated to create a document called Your Government Respects Your Marriage: Developments in New York State Agency Recognition of Same-Sex Couples’ Out-of-State Marriages.

Genderkid is a blog with thoughts on gender from an Argentinian transboy's perspective. It is a blog full of questions, and a safe space to question and explore gender identity and expression. The blog also provides a great and comprehensive resources/links section.

Another display of transphobia has occured, this time in Appleton Wisconsin demonstrating how vital it is to have a non-discrimination law which protects gender variance.

"An Appleton transgendered woman filed a lawsuit against a College Avenue club, after she says she was denied entrance due to her gender identity. The complaint says Sierra Broussard, wasn't allowed admittance because "The employee or owner of Park Central then suggested to Sierra, while in a public forum, that she go to another club, one that caters to "her kind" (Womanist Musing).

Arizona Civil Partnerships plans to set into motion a new proposition for the introduction of Civil Partnerships in the State of Arizona.

An Arizona Civil Partnership enables same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship. Couples who form an Arizona Civil Partnership have a new legal status, that of 'civil partner'.

Which would include access to:

* Tax benefits, including inheritance tax * Ability to make medical decisions for their civil partner * Employment benefits * Most state and occupational pension benefits * Hospital visitation rights of civil partners * Income-related benefits, tax credits and child support * Duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your civil partner and any children of the partnership * Ability to apply for parental responsibility for your civil partner's child * Inheritance of a tenancy agreement * Right to inherit if a civil partner dies without a will * Access to fatal accidents compensation * Protection from domestic violence * Recognition for immigration and nationality purposes

The gay community was already angry at the Mormon Church over its decision to heavily finance the proposition 8 campaign to defeat marriage rights in California for same-sex couples.

The LDS Church responded by saying they support gay rights, just not the word 'marriage' and were given the opportunity to stand up and show their support for other measures.

The Common Ground Initiative was meant to introduce improvements of the law to be more inclusive of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, these set of bills had zero to do with marriage, so the Mormon Church would speak out in support, right?

Queer LiberAction will stage a queer kiss-in on Saturday, February 7 at noon. This will take place by the Dallas Museum of Art at Ross and Harwood in Downtown Dallas.

In addition be sure to attend the big 'Freedom to Marry Day' demonstration at 11:30 am on Thursday, February 12. The festivities will begin in Founder's Plaza outside the Records Building at 509 Main St.

"Saddlebacking" is a new term to describe the phenomenon of Christian teens engaging in unprotected anal sex in order to preserve their virginities. The term has been created by Dan Savage to show the person being ridden has been saddled - thanks to the efforts of Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church and others like him who espouse religious hang-ups and serious misconceptions about sex.

Well the Chinese zoo has decided to give the gay penguins a wedding. Legal experts are still deliberating whether these are indeed full civil marriages or just a domestic partnership. Anyways, congrats guys!

Chennai will become the first Indian city to have a dedicated helpline for lesbians starting on February 7th 2009. The number: 044-65515742.

This program is an initiative of the Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO) to help empower lesbians to come out of the closet. The helpline will provide counseling, support and livelihood assistance.

Iceland is set to become the first country to have an openly-queer head of government. Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, a Social Democrat and the current Minister of Social Affairs who's also openly lesbian, is likely to be announced as the new prime minister as the former Icelandic prime minister leaves office due to esophageal cancer.

Besides being the first lesbian prime minister in the world, she's also the first female prime minister in Iceland.

Ex-gay survivors are people who were once under religious/social pressure and attempting to change their sexual orientation to heterosexual, but eventually came to embrace their sexual identity as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender after years of trauma and hardship suffered through 'reparative therapy'.

What do ex-gay camps and programs do?

Ex-gay groups are desperate to find a 'cure' for homosexuality even though sexual orientation is natural and not a disease. Due to their stubbornness and rejection of science and psychology there is virtually every kind of 'therapy program' available and they all claim to be succesful. The truth be told is none of them work. Some of the more popular techniques are behavior modification, electroshock therapy, touch therapy, psychoanalysis, prayer, exorcisms, and others. The techniques get extremely bizarre and questionable which is another reason why it is illegal and unethical for any professional to engage in so called 'reparative therapy'. Some of these more bizarre techniques include lifestyle changes such as conforming the identity to match their birth gender. Electroshock therapy while a person is stimulated by same-sex porn, but not when they watch heterosexual pornography. Touch therapy is when a counselor of the same-sex touches the victim in an attempt to make them feel loved and alleviate their same-sex desires.

Can someone change their sexual orientation?People cannot willingly change their sexual orientation or gender identity. The American Psychological Association and American Medical Association as well as others in the scientific community strongly condemn so called 'reparative therapy' for its unscientific approach, inability to produce valid results, and for the damage it inflicts on its victims.

There have been zero peer reviewed studies indicating any change in sexual orientation or gender identity. While "ex-gay" groups are heavily funded by the church and continue to spew out lies saying thousands "have walked away from the homosexual lifestyle" the truth is there are only a handful of people who actually maintain that they are indeed "ex-gay" and these people are either suppressing their true identity, choosing celibacy, or flat out lying while living a double life.

Sexual orientation is usually consistent throughout a lifetime, some people do experience a shift in sexuality due to sexual fluidity, this however is not a conscious choice but more a result of nature and is in most instances rare.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The Human Rights Campaign has created a list of the top businesses that support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Findings are based on the 2009 Corporate Equality Index, the annual report that rates corporate America's treatment of LGBT employees, 260 businesses received top ratings.

Click here for the industry headings. Each business name links to a more detailed profile of their policies and practices

As posted earlier, the movie Prayers for Bobby is a powerful drama based on a real life. The story is about a mother who could not accept her sons homosexuality, and as a result of his families ignorance, the boy commits suicide. The mother struggles to make peace with herself, and ultimately becomes an advocate on behalf of gay rights.

One Queer Woman's Jaded View - These are the irregular musings of an ex-Lutheran who goes to a Methodist seminary and works in a UCC church. The blog deals with what it means to be a queer christian, and discusses LGBT news and issues.

Former Atlanta Brave John Rocker used anti-gay slurs and anti-Semitic statements against local radio host Steak Shapiro during an altercation at the W Buckhead hotel’s grand opening last week.

Rocker allgedly used ethnic slurs against Shapiro, who hosts a sports talk show on AM station 790 The Zone, and in later stories reported that Rocker kept calling Shapiro a “Jew.”

The AJC did not report that Rocker used the word “faggot.” However, Shapiro confirmed to Southern Voice today that Rocker used the slur against him.

“It [faggot] is one of his favorite terms and he used it multiple times,” Shapiro told SoVo. “His exact words at least three times [were], ‘You Jew faggot.’ He is a pathetic guy.”

Rocker, a former Braves relief pitcher, caused a national stir in 1999 by ridiculing a host of minority groups when describing to a Sports Illustrated reporter why he would not want to play for a New York-based team.

“Imagine having to take the No. 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you’re [riding] through Beirut, next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids,” Rocker said. (Sovo)

PepsiCo in the face of their boycott by right-wing organizations is not caving in to their anti-gay demands. They continue to cater to the LGBT community via their sponsorships of our programs and organizations, as well as their efforts in diversity training for employees.

Now, they have released a gay friendly and comical commercial in the U.K.

The Senate Judiciary Committee in Utah will be holding a hearing at 2pm, Tuesday, January 27, at the State Capitol Building, in Room 250.

On the committees agenda will be SB 32 the Wrongful Death Amendments sponsored by Sen. McCoy.

This bill would allow people to designate another adult to have standing in court if they die due to negligence or malpractice. Grandparents, siblings, and partners should not be locked out of the courts when a loved one is killed in these circumstances.

Equality Utah is asking us to contact members of the Senate Judiciary committee to support SB 32 today!

"5-alpha-reductase deficiency" is an intersex condition where individuals have testes, as well as vagina and labia, but with a small penis capable of ejaculation instead of a clitoris. Come puberty the testes descend the voice deepens, limited facial hair occurs, and they often develop a male sexual identity.

Monday, January 26, 2009

American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) is a non-profit, chapter-based association of active, reserve and veteran servicemembers dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.

To order a kit, plan something for your school, get buttons, ad banners and more, check out their website.

Students at a school in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania have proposed a gay-straight alliance club at their school.

The first board meeting on Jan. 13, little had been said to the teenagers hoping to start a Gay-Straight Alliance.

The second school board meeting just a week later presented a much more challenging situation for the three students who attended. The public comment portion of the meeting stretched for more than an hour, as people spoke for and against the club’s formation at the high school. (LGBT Youth News)

The districs core values consist of:

INTEGRITY - We seek to do everything with integrity; we treat everyone with respect.

LEARNING - We recognize teaching as well as learning needs to be of the highest priority. Learning is essential. Everyone can learn and help others to learn.

EXCELLENCE - We challenge ourselves and others to strive for excellence.

INDIVIDUALITY - We cherish the uniqueness and worth of every individual.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY - We believe that education is a shared responsibility;cooperation and communication. (WASD)

Urge the school board to uphold the rights of its student to form a GSA and to stay true to their founding principles. Click here to send a message to all of the board members.

Equal Rep is now putting on a follow-up national campaign to strongly urge President-elect Obama to create a new Cabinet position, Secretary of GLBT Affairs.

"We are the only minority group to have outright discriminatory laws against us. We can't marry in 48 states, if we join the military we are required to lie or hide our sexual orientation lest we be discharged, and we are denied all federal recognition that we even exist just to name a few laws. If ever there was a critical need for a new Cabinet position, this is it." said Equal Rep founder, Paul Sousa. "And on top of that, GLBT Americans are the only minority group to have never been appointed to the Presidential Cabinet in the history of the United States. We're asking President Obama to give this community the legal and political attention it requires and the representation it deserves."

There are other Cabinet positions that represent minority groups such as the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs and Equal Rep is asking President Obama to create another position similarly for the GLBT community. It is commonplace for Presidents to create Cabinet positions due to community needs such as the creation of the Secretary of Homeland Security position in 2001.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

eQualityGiving has begun their "Yes, I Do" campaign to get US House and Senate members to declare their support for marriage equality. They have researched current Members of Congress who support full marriage equality. So far there are 27 Members of Congress representing 15 states. You can read who they are, as well as their quotes.

Furthermore, if you know of a Member of Congress who supports marriage equality but is not listed, there is a way to notify them using the same page, so he or she can be added immediately.

If your Members of Congress have not issued public statements supporting marriage equality, this is the time to contact them. These are new times; change is in the air.

Beyond Masculinity is a groundbreaking collection of 22 provocative essays on sexuality, gender, and politics -- all written by gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer men. Part audiobook, part-blog, and part-anthology, brings together a smart, diverse group of queer male writers all critically examining maleness and the construction of masculinity and gender norms for men.

The Dallas Voice and it's Web Log which bill themselves as a "LGB Paper" are not inclusive or sensitive to the T part of the community. They continue to use derogatory words against the trans community. These words lead to insensitivity resulting in the marginalization, victimization and violent murders of transgender people.

The video below describes how harmful it is to the self respect of transgender people when you call them "trannie" and unless they are a entertainer with published articles which we identify ourselves individually as a "Drag Queen or Tranny" please do not call them by these names.

Please save lives and take action! Copy the message below and send the Dallas Voice an email!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

The 2009 legislative session is here. We need you to make sure your Assemblymember supports marriage equality and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act when these bills come before them again in the coming months. The Assembly passed the marriage bill for the first time by a vote of 85-61 in June 2007 and the GENDA bill by a vote of 108-34 in June 2008.

Queer Horror is a site devoted to exploring the horror genre and its inclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgendered. It's a place where queer folk can explore their interests in, or connections with, the horror genre.

Campus Pride announces LGBT & Ally College Admission Fairs, specifically designed for prospective students and their families to find LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. Free and open to the public, any individual interested in LGBT-Friendly colleges/universities may attend the fair. Registration is not required prior. To exhibit, any college/university may register for a nominal fee to showcase their LGBT and Ally programs and services.

Studies show that sexuality and gender are not black or white concepts. These aspects of identity formation lie along a continuum where on one end people strongly feel heterosexual or homosexual with regards to sexuality, and male or female with regards to gender identity.

Most people lean towards and identify more with their male or female gender and their heterosexual orientation. Whereas gay, bisexual, asexual, and transgender people have a mental notion of where they lie on the continuum and firmly establish that as their identity.

What about those who don't lie firmly on the continuum? Some people experience sexual fluidity, and this concept is forcing us to reconsider our ideas about sexuality and gender identity.

There are some people who experience more homosexual desires one day or for a period of time, and then reverse for a period of time to have more heterosexual desires. Are these people simply bisexual? Bisexuals have a consistent orientation of being attracted to both genders, but for the sexually fluid their identity seems to change frequently. Those who blur gender lines, are fluid as well, they may decide to embrace more of a female identity one day, and a male one the next.

Sexual fluidity is real, and there are probably people who will comment here who can attest to that experience. If we accept the notion that some people will be shifting, we need to ask ourselves why this is? If some people shift, we must accept that it is natural for some people to shift from gay to straight and straight to gay over the course of their lifetime.

What do you all make of sexual fluidity? All comments are welcome, but please ensure that nobody is being attacked for their respective identities.

1/24 UPDATE: KABC TV in Los Angeles says it will air a public service announcement that it initially deemed too controversial to air during President Barack Obama's inauguration.

The PSA will run this Sunday during Extreme Makeover: Home Edition at about 9:15 p.m. Five ads were produced to counter discrimination in the aftermath of the passage of California's Proposition 8, which rescinded marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples in the state. (Advocate)

1/22 - Los Angeles Affiliate KABC-TV refused to air the Get To Know Us First Ads featuring gay and lesbian families during the inauguration, citing that it was too controversial.

KABC told Chris Yokogawa, the media buyer at New and Improved Media trying to place GetToKnowUsFirst.org's ads, that "many families will be watching," and that it was "controversial". "They were firm in their rejection,” Yokogawa says in a release. (PR Newswire)

KABC's president and general manager is Arnold J. Kleiner. The station lists their phone number as (818) 863-7777.

There has been a lot of talk as to who Governor David Patterson will select to fill the now vacant seat of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. The Governor will select congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to become the next New York state senator.

There have been conflicting reports as to where Congresswoman Gillibrand stands on LGBT issues. With some reports saying that she supports federal civil unions legislation but not marriage equality, and others saying she does not support a repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. She is considered a "blue dog democrat" who has an 80% rating from the Human Rights Campaign and supports gun rights, who has had a more conservative record due to the nature of her district where she needed to get elected.

However, via Towleroad we now learn that New York's LGBT rights organization the Empire State Pride Agenda has only accolade for the incoming senator...

"After talking to Kirsten Gillibrand, I am very happy to say that New York is poised to have its first U.S. Senator who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples. She also supports the full repeal of the federal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) law, repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) and passage of legislation outlawing discrimination against transgender people. While we had a productive discussion about a whole range of LGBT concerns, I was particularly happy to hear where she stands on these issues."

Below is the contact information should you wish to correspond with the incoming senator.

Join 'The Power' by signing a petition calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to lead the 111th Congress expand the Civil Rights Act to declare once and for all that LGBT rights are civil rights and that it will be the public policy of the United States that discrimination based on LGBT status is prohibited.

The petition, copies of which will be sent to Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the President's LGBT Liason, Brian Bond, will be delivered on June 1, 2009, the first day of the 40th annual gay pride month.